The Register: Telcos find cloud migrations, security, are a pain in the IaaS

Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/22/telcos_consume_less_than_half/
Source: The Register
Title: Telcos find cloud migrations, security, are a pain in the IaaS

Feedly Summary: Carriers consume less than half the cloud they committed to use
Telecom companies have consumed only 48 percent of the cloud they have committed to, yet seek to secure more, according to a report released late last week by Infosys.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text discusses a report by Infosys on the telecom industry’s cloud adoption challenges, indicating that telecom companies use only 48% of their contracted cloud services. The report highlights security concerns, lack of collaborative decision-making, and the impact of migration complexities on the efficiency of 5G networks.

Detailed Description: The report sheds light on the current state of cloud utilization among telecom companies, indicating a gap between commitment and actual consumption. Here are the major points of the report:

– **Cloud Utilization**: Telecom companies are only utilizing 48% of the cloud capacity they have signed up for, yet are increasing their spending on cloud services. The urgency stems from the need to optimize 5G networks which are critical for advanced applications like IoT and edge computing.

– **Challenges Faced**:
– **Migration Issues**: Transitioning from legacy IT systems is a major hurdle, involving complex interdependencies and customizations that slow down the full utilization of cloud resources.
– **Competitive Services**: Telecoms face competition from cloud service providers offering services that directly compete with their own, such as IoT platforms and virtualized network functions (NFVs).
– **Security Risks**: Adopting cloud-native 5G networks increases vulnerability to cyber threats, particularly with data interception and the exposure of cloud-based assets. The text highlights that IoT devices on networks are particularly at risk for botnet attacks and configuration errors.

– **Lack of Security Measures**: A staggering 45% of respondents indicated a lax approach towards security, allowing various department heads to deploy new cloud infrastructure without stringent oversight.

– **Isolation in Decision-Making**: The report reveals that 44% of essential cloud decisions are made in isolation rather than collaboratively across departments, which could lead to misaligned strategies and implementation.

– **Positive Outcomes of Migration**: Despite these challenges, the report also notes that over 75% of respondents recognize cloud migration as beneficial, leading to significant cost savings and improved performance, although there is a lack of confidence in monitoring and optimizing costs effectively.

In conclusion, for security and compliance professionals in the telecom sector, the report underscores the importance of enhancing collaborative decision-making, implementing stronger security protocols, and ensuring comprehensive migration strategies to leverage cloud capabilities effectively while mitigating risks.